Medicare is a health insurance plan administered by the federal government and individual U.S. states, generally used by citizens aged 65 or older. Medicare Part A, called traditional Medicare, is often provided free of premiums. Part A mostly handles inpatient hospital services but does not provide for preventive care like regular doctor visits, vision or prescriptions, leaving users to fill in the gaps with private Medicare supplement plans. Residents of North Carolina have their pick of these Medigap policies, which offer coverage based on an individual's needs and budget.
Medigap Plans A and B
As of June 1, 2010, North Carolina residents can buy any of 10 different Medigap plans, all designated by letter and offering different sets of services. Medigap A covers hospital co-insurance costs up to a year after you deplete regular Medicare Part A benefits. It also offers 100 percent coverage for Medicare Part A hospice care co-insurance, blood, and Medicare Part B co-insurance. Part B Medicare provides for more preventive services than Part A and covers visits to a physician, home health care and outpatient services. Medigap B offers the same coverage as Medigap A, with the addition of coverage for co-insurance for Medicare Part B preventive care and a Medicare Part A deductible.
Medigap Plans C and D
Medigap C and D are also similar Medicare supplement plans. C covers all the same services as A and B, but adds 100 percent co-insurance for skilled nursing facility care, Medicare Part B deductible and foreign travel emergency insurance. D is the same but removes the Medicare Part B deductible option.
Medigap Plans F and G
Medigap Plans F and G offer the most supplemental Medicare coverage in North Carolina. You can get Plan F either with higher monthly premiums and no deductible or with high deductibles and lower premiums. Plan F covers all the same services A, B, C and D Medigap does, as well as Medicare Part B excess charges. Plan G, like Plan D, removes the Medicare Part B deductible coverage but is otherwise the same as Plan F.
Medigap Plans K and L
Medigap Plans K and L have a yearly out-of-pocket limit for patients, after which they cover 100 percent of covered services for the rest of the year. The out-of-pocket for Plan K is $4,620, while the out-of-pocket for Plan L is half that at $2,310. Both K and L offer Medicare Part A co-insurance hospital costs for 365 days after the end of Medicare benefits and Medicare preventive care Part B co-insurance. However, they differ in all other respects. Plan K covers 50 percent of Medicare Part A deductible, skilled nursing facility care, Part A hospice care, blood and Medicare Part B co-insurance or co-payment benefits. Plan K provides the same services, but covers 75 percent of the benefits instead of 50 percent.
Tags: Medicare Part, Medicare Part deductible, Medigap Plans, Part deductible, North Carolina, Part co-insurance, Medicare Part co-insurance
